verb phrase

noun

, Grammar.

1. a group of words including a verb and its complements, objects, or other modifiers that functions syntactically as a verb. In English a verb phrase combines with a noun or noun phrase acting as subject to form a simple sentence.
2. a phrase consisting of a main verb and any auxiliaries but not including modifiers, objects, or complements.

verb phrase

noun

1. grammar a constituent of a sentence that contains the verb and any direct and indirect objects but not the subject. It is a controversial question in grammatical theory whether or not this constituent is to be identified with the predicate of the sentence VP

Example Sentences

When we use a verb phrase, it expresses some other time than the past or present.

From Project Gutenberg

So the word bought is a part of the verb phrase, are bought.

From Project Gutenberg

The simple predicate is the verb or verb phrase without its modifiers.

From Project Gutenberg

The negative not very often separates the words forming a verb phrase.

From Project Gutenberg

In this sentence, work is the subject of the sentence and will be commenced is the verb phrase.

From Project Gutenberg